Endorphins and Love: The Body’s Natural Painkiller

The endorphins in our body are natural opioids released by our central nervous system that stimulate what we identify as our moods of happiness, warmth, love, closure and ecstasy. Under these moods, the brain releases naturally occurring chemical endorphins that cause feelings of happiness and euphoria. This release and complex interplay between these endorphins and hormones can lead to physical and emotional well-being and can create a powerful bond between people (Mental Health America).

This release and complex interplay between these endorphins and hormones can lead to physical and emotional well-being and can create a powerful bond between people.

One of the key chemical reactions involved is oxytocin, which is often referred to as the “love hormone”. It is released through acts of closure and physical affection associated with feelings of love, trust, and security. It plays a major role in developing these feelings in not only leveraging romantic bonding and attachment between individuals when building relationships, but in the development of maternal love during pregnancy and childbirth. Similarly, the vasopressin hormone, primarily attributed to regulating water balance in the body has also been linked to increased feelings of bonding in the formation of stronger fatherly love, child nurturing bonds and caregiving behaviors.

Dopamine is also an example of a popular reaction associated with this state and with feelings of happiness and well-being

This neurotransmitter is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward, and is thought to play a role in the reward system associated with parental love, making parents feel happy and content when caring for their children (Cristol) Likewise, in a romantic relationship, it is associated with feelings of recompense in the pursuit of affection, the released feelings of excitement and satisfaction reinforces the behavior and fortifies the desire to continue the attachment/relationship. In a way, the transmitter can work and stimulate an addiction as the pursuit of a reward-system in which behaviors that are associated with it are constantly sought-out. In this way, dopamine may play a role in the motivation to seek out and maintain a relationship (Sprouse-Blum).

The clear manifestation that these endorphins induce with the regulation in feelings of attachment plays a key role in promoting emotional, physical, and mental well-being, and is an essential component of healthy relationships and social connections. Endorphins can elevate our mood and act as natural painkillers to help to reduce pain and discomfort such as in physical activity or injury, and help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety (Cleveland Clinic) They have also been shown to increase longevity and immunity, as they can help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body Overall, endorphins are continuously at work and can be easily stimulated for regulated mental and physical health by simple acts of warmth, closure or spending time with loved ones (Harvard Health)

Eva Dobrescu